How Jets' Leonard Williams plans to take his game to the 'next level' in 2018

FILE - This Nov. 12, 2017 file photo shows New York Jets defensive end Leonard Williams (92) before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla. The New York Jets were winners in the standings without even taking the field over the weekend. The coaches and players returned Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 from a bye-week break with the Jets sitting just one game out of a playoff spot, despite a 4-6 record and four losses in their last five games. "We definitely still have high hopes," defensive end Leonard Williams said. "And people are coming to practice with high energy and feel pretty positive about the rest of the season." (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)(Photo: The Associated Press)

Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams has shown flashes of brilliance in his first three NFL seasons. But the sixth overall pick in the 2015 draft has yet to become a consistently dominant force.

And so 2018 isn't make-or-break for Williams, but it's should us a lot about where this soon-to-be 24-year-old's career is headed. And Williams seems to know it.

"I think it’s definitely time to step up and take it to the next level," Williams said Monday on a conference call, as the Jets began their offseason workout program. "And it comes with a lot. It’s not just my play on the field. It comes with my leadership, how I approach work, how much time I’m putting in outside of the mandatory hours into my craft and to my game."

Williams has been a very good pass rusher in each of his first three seasons. But after making the Pro Bowl in 2016, Williams had only two sacks in 2017. That doesn't tell the whole story though. Williams was still a disruptive force, finishing 2017 with 25 QB hits, which was tied for seventh-most in the league.

Leonard Williams of the Jets celebrates a missed Patriots field goal.(Photo: Chris Pedota/NorthJersey.com)

But Williams is not content to be nearly sacking the quarterback.

"That’s always been my goal," Williams said. " To not have it close anymore and making those hits into sacks and just getting that one step closer. ... I’ve always been right there and so I’m pretty sure it’s close and I’m pretty sure everyone can see that. So there’s no pressure, it’s just working to get better."

Williams said he's been working with Jets assistant defensive line coach La’Roi Glover on improving his first step after the snap so that he can get to the quarterback more quickly. He's also hoping to apply lessons learned from teammates over the years.

When Williams arrived in the league in 2015, the defensive line room was full of experience and talent with Damon Harrison, Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson. Now all three of those players are gone, and Williams who turns 24 in June, is the elder statesman on the defensive line.

(Photo: The Associated Press)

"I don’t think it has sunk in yet," Williams said. "I mean, it’s pretty crazy to think about how fast the time has gone by, just getting here as a rookie having Snacks and Sheldon and Mo here, and being the one guy left out of all those guys. But what’s been helpful is even though the time went by fast and I was really young, I got to learn from a lot of great guys like those guys and I get to apply certain stuff and I got to take away certain stuff from each one of those guys that I want to apply to my own game."

But now that he's the unquestioned leader of the defensive line, Williams doesn't feel there is any more of a burden on his shoulders.

"The pressure’s always been a factor, being a first rounder, coming in playing with a lot of good guys already," Williams said."I think just playing this game in general, there’s always going to be that pressure, and I think it’s something that we’ve just got to learn to deal with, something that we learn to get used to and comfortable with. So I’m comfortable under pressure and I trust my teammates to trust me and I trust myself in being a better leader this year and just taking it to the next level."

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Jets defensive end Leonard Williams talks about his team's 38-31 win over the Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Andy Vasquez/NorthJersey.com